Vice President Pence said on Sunday that he should have worn a mask during his visit to the Mayo Clinic, this reversal came after receiving a harsh backlash for failing to adhere to the hospital’s policy during the pandemic.

“I didn’t think it was necessary, but I should have worn a mask at the Mayo Clinic, and I wore it when I visited the ventilator plant in Indiana” two days later, Pence sheepishly admitted at a Fox News virtual town hall on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Pence took a tour of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, during which he met with hospital staff and a patient. It was reported that every other person present there wore a mask.

The vice president initially said that since he is constantly tested for coronavirus and since the mask prevents people from transmitting the virus, he didn’t feel that he had to wear one. He did reiterate that belief in the town hall.

The CDC had recommended that all Americans wear cloth face masks in public settings where social distancing might be difficult. The Mayo Clinic announced its own policy on April 13th, requiring that all visitors wear masks.

Second Lady Karen Pence tried to defend her husband, saying he was unaware of the clinic’s rule. But a Mayo Clinic spokesperson told the press that the vice president and his team had already been briefed about the mask policy prior to them arriving.

The clinic’s Twitter account had put out a statement saying the same, before later deleting it and instead of posting: “We look forward to continued collaboration to develop essential testing and treatment for our patients and communities.”

Pence said on Sunday, “It really is a statement about the American people, the way people have been willing to step forward, practice social distancing, wear masks in settings where they can’t do that.”

He added, “As we continue to practice those principles, all of us together, I know we’ll get through this.”